Card distribution and sanitizing apparatus using ultraviolet irradiation

Abstract

A card distribution and sanitization apparatus, such as a dealing shoe, may use ultraviolet light to sanitize the surface of playing cards. The ultraviolet light may be directed to an outlet and/or interior cavity of the card distribution and sanitization apparatus and may be configured to emit light in the 200 nm to 290 nm wavelength range. An enclosure of the card distribution and sanitization apparatus may be coupled to ultraviolet light-emitters and may be configured to hold the playing cards and the ultraviolet light-emitters. An associated controller may control operations of the card distribution and sanitization apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A card distribution and sanitization apparatus for disinfecting a set of cards, the apparatus comprising:
 a power supply; 
 an enclosure defining an interior cavity configured to support the set of cards, the enclosure comprising a front wall defining a gap configured to allow a card of the set of cards to be removed from the interior cavity; 
 a card sanitizing stack-up coupled to the enclosure and defining an outlet configured to receive the card of the set of cards after the card passes through the gap, the card sanitizing stack-up comprising:
 a first light-emitter operably coupled to the power supply, the first light-emitter configured to emit light toward a first side of the card as the card moves through the outlet; 
 a first optical diffuser coupled to the first light-emitter and configured to distribute light emitted from the first light-emitter to the first side of the card; 
 a second light-emitter separated from the first light-emitter by at least the outlet and operably coupled to the power supply, the second light-emitter configured to emit light toward a second side of the card as the card moves through the outlet, the second side of the card opposite from the first side of the card; and 
 a second optical diffuser coupled to the second light-emitter and configured to distribute light emitted from the second light-emitter to the second side of the card; and 
 
 a controller operably coupled to the power supply and configured to control the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter to disinfect both the first side and the second side of the card as the card passes through the outlet. 
 
     
     
       2. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the enclosure comprises:
 a base plate; 
 a first side wall extending from a first end of the base plate; and 
 a second side wall extending from a second end of the base plate, the first end opposite from the second end; 
 
 the front wall is coupled to the first side wall and the second side wall; 
 the base plate, the first side wall, the second side wall, and the front wall define the interior cavity; and 
 the base plate is coupled to the card sanitizing stack-up outside of the interior cavity. 
 
     
     
       3. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 light emitted by both the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter has a wavelength between 200 nm and 290 nm; and 
 the controller is configured to operate the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter at a duration to cause at least a portion of microorganisms present on a surface of the card to be ruptured. 
 
     
     
       4. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first optical diffuser or the second optical diffuser physically guides the card as the card passes through the outlet such that the card is in contact with the at least one of the first optical diffuser or the second optical diffuser. 
     
     
       5. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a proximity sensor configured to detect a presence of the card at the outlet. 
     
     
       6. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller directs at least one of the first light-emitter or the second light-emitter to begin emitting light after the proximity sensor detects the presence of the card at the outlet. 
     
     
       7. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the controller increases an intensity of light emitted by at least one of the first light-emitter or the second light-emitter after the proximity sensor detects the presence of the card at the outlet. 
     
     
       8. A card distribution and sanitization apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining:
 an interior cavity configured to support a set of cards; and 
 an outlet for a card of the set of cards to pass through, the outlet positioned at a front portion of the housing; 
 
 a light-emitting stack-up positioned proximate to the outlet and defining an inlet for receiving the card, the light-emitting stack-up comprising:
 a first light-emitter configured to emit light toward the card as the card passes through the light-emitting stack-up; and 
 a second light-emitter configured to emit light toward the card as the card passes through the light-emitting stack-up, the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter separated by a passage of the light-emitting stack-up; and 
 
 a controller operatively coupled to the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter and configured to operate the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter to administer a dosage of UV light toward the card causing at least a partial sanitization of a surface of the card. 
 
     
     
       9. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first light-emitter or the second light emitter is an elongated light-emitter. 
     
     
       10. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the elongated light-emitter is a light-emitting strip, the light-emitting strip comprising a number of light-emitting diode elements. 
     
     
       11. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the elongated light-emitter is an ultraviolet light-emitting tube. 
     
     
       12. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a third light-emitter coupled to an internal wall of the housing, the third light-emitter configured to emit UV light onto the set of cards within the internal cavity. 
     
     
       13. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a friction strip coupled to the internal wall of the housing, the friction strip configured to separate successive cards of the set of cards. 
     
     
       14. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the housing further comprises a lid; and 
 the controller causes the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter to stop emitting light when the lid is opened. 
 
     
     
       15. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to administer the dosage of UV light of at least 40 mJ/cm 2 . 
     
     
       16. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a proximity sensor, wherein the controller is configured to operate the first light-emitter and the second light-emitter to administer the dosage of UV light toward the card in response to the proximity sensor detecting the card. 
     
     
       17. A card distribution and sanitization apparatus comprising:
 a housing defining:
 an interior cavity configured to support a set of cards; and 
 a gap for a card of the set of cards to pass through, the gap positioned at a front portion of the housing; and 
 
 a light-emitting stack-up positioned proximate to the gap and configured to receive the card after the card passes through the gap, the light-emitting stack-up defining an inlet and a passage, the light-emitting stack-up comprising a pair of light-emitters positioned on opposing sides of the passage and configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the card. 
 
     
     
       18. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the pair of light-emitters are configured to emit ultraviolet-C light toward a respective card of the set of cards as the respective card passes through the passage. 
     
     
       19. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the pair of light-emitters are configured to administer a dosage of ultraviolet light of at least 40 mJ/cm 2 . 
     
     
       20. The card distribution and sanitization apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 an optical detector configured to measure a dosage value of ultraviolet light emitted from the pair of light-emitters; and 
 a controller configured to:
 determine whether the dosage value meets or surpasses a threshold value; and 
 direct the pair of light-emitters to stop emitting ultraviolet light when the dosage value meets or surpasses the threshold value.